Pretty In Pink

It’s official. We have mentally checked out of Winter. Done deal, dead to us. Over worked, over covered, over done. No matter where I go women are saying enough, enough of these drab duds, let me out of my house and out of these clothes.

I popped into an office today and every desk had an unopened fresh bouquet of pink flowers on it. The VP of The Winchester Hospital Foundation said she simply needed to solicit some springtime cheer as they prepared for their Spring Into Pink Hospital fundraiser to support their Breast Care Center. This interaction changed my whole day. The positive action, the thoughtful gesture, the beautiful flowers and even the lovely scent knocked me forward into the season (of course the 50 degrees outside helped a bit too). I left with a spring in my step as I headed to the Mall for a shopping session with a client.

My usual protocol is to hunt and gather for what I call foundations and frosting. The foundations would be the dress pants, no doubt including black, the jeans, no doubt including dark wash, the shapers, no doubt nude and black and the work-horse shoes, something comfortable, stylish and no doubt black.

Then I move to the frosting. Spring rules – no black. Time to pop some color with the sleeveless shells, long sleeve blouses, jackets, accessories and pretty shoes! Inspired by the bouquets of flowers today, we worked the pretty in pink theme.

As you dress and as you shop, start thinking about your clothing as foundations and frosting.

Your foundations are in 2 categories – your bottoms and your shoes. Most women choose their outfit based on how their feet want to feel for the day, so those two items go hand in hand (or foot in shoe).

If you start to pull your daily outfit the same way each time – the pant or skirt and then the shoe, you will start to get in a groove.

Don’t think ‘whole outfit’ to start – just throw on a pant, then a shoe. Then go shopping in your closet for the frosting pieces. Your frosting pieces are in 2 categories. The first category is your tops – from the lightest layering pieces to the heaviest pieces. Tanks, blouses, sweaters and then jackets or blazers.

The second category is your accessories – scarves and jewelry. When it comes to your accessories, match chunky jewelry and lofty scarves to heavier knits and substantial shoes. Match dainty jewelry to softer, silkier scarves, tops and strappy shoes.

If you start to pull together your daily outfits in this order Foundation 1,2 – and then Frosting 1,2 – it will start to make sense, get easier and you will get more creative over time.

Closet tip: First a question…if you walked into your favorite store and it was set up like YOUR closet, would you stay? Would you shop? Would you be inspired? Send me a picture of your closet and I’ll give you some tips to work with what you have to make your closet an inspirational source of joy! Yes Alice, it can be done.
Email me at Doreen@DoreenDove.com. In the meantime, here’s the tip. No one is inspired by something they cannot see! If your scarves and your jewelry are hiding in your drawers, then there they will stay! Make them work for you by making them visible. Scarves should hang by color on scarf loops right inside your closet. They are connectors…pulling together solid pieces that might not otherwise play together! Your jewelry (granted not grandma’s dainty 18th century necklace) should be hanging on some sort of unit nearby, possibly even categorized by gold and silver for quick shopping.

Still fretting about your closet? Let’s grab 30-minutes on the phone to go over your personal plan.

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There is an entire chapter entitled “What’s In Your Closet – Must I Open The Door?”

Doreen Dove empowers women to use style as a tool to take strategic control of their image. She is an image consultant, personal stylist, professional speaker and author. Her extensive background in all aspects of retail has uniquely qualified her to work with women of all ages and professions, coaching them to personal style success.

Doreen Dove empowers women to use style as a tool to take strategic control of their image. She is an image consultant, personal stylist, professional speaker and author.
Doreen coaches women to live fully engaged with confidence, knowing they are communicating the best version of themselves to further their personal and professional goals. Her services include closet edits, personal shopping, virtual styling, small group workshops, corporate and keynote presentations.
Engage with Doreen on a complimentary 30-minute call to determine how she can help you 'dress with purpose'!
www.DoreenDove.com/freeconsult